Sal Curioso- cocktail bar & restaurant- Hong Kong

Modern Latin-American influenced sharing cuisine served in bright, engaging, yet relaxed setting

UPDATE: SAL CURIOSO CLOSED ON AUGUST 30TH, 2013

April 9th, 2013

Following on from the success of their first Hong Kong restaurant- the acclaimed Madam Sixty Ate in Wanchai- husband-and-wife team, and founders of Woolly Pig Concepts, Chris Woodyard and Bronwyn Cheung, have re-focused their creative talent on a new dining concept with the recent opening of Sal Curioso. Located in a second floor space overlooking Wyndham Street in the heart of the popular dining and nightlife district behind the Central office district, Sal Curioso is a modern dining and cocktail concept serving a menu inspired by the sharing cuisines of the Latin cultures of Spain, South America and Mexico. An attractive interior decor features an eclectic, contemporary approach to furnishing, overlaid on a restrained industrial-chic template of polished concrete floors and ceilings, exposed ducts and beams, stainless steel kitchen and full height glass facade, creating an engaging space conducive to relaxed, social dining.

Sal Curioso takes its name from an eponymous persona – and represents a further iteration of the whimsical, personality-construct theme originally conceived for Madam Sixty Ate. In this instance, Sal Curioso is said to be an eccentric Spanish gentleman traveler of uncommon inventiveness, with a passion for fine cuisine. The theme is expressed throughout the dining experience at Sal Curioso– from the eclectic decor, to the graphic design of the menus, and the graphic illustrations on wall spaces.

Menu selections at Sal Curioso are as eclectic as the furnishings- reflecting a broad cross-pollination of various Latin American cuisines. Dishes are assembled under several categories- “Snacks & Tapas Inspired” feature items such as the Mediterranean influenced Sardine Salad– soused sardine fillets, three red peppers, smoked bacon, shaved potato and tapenade; and the favorite Latin American street food dish of Choripan– a chorizo and red pepper sandwich. The “Apertivos” selections include a Peruvian style Kingfish Ceviche– raw and seared yellowtail kingfish with habanero pickle and tequila cumquats; and the Caribbean dish of Jambalaya– a combination of saffron rice bomba rice, 5 seafoods, suckling pork, chorizo, celery, pepper and onions. And for “Mains”– the options range from Grilled Meats such as grain fed Australian beef, and Dutch baby pork ribs, to the Buttermilk Fried Chicken- served with corn fritters; and the Biscay Marmitako– a casserole of seared tuna, chorizo, squid, mussels, peppers and potato. Desserts or “Sweet Endings” offer a concise selection including the Glassed Key Lime Pie– served with lime marmalade, coconut sorbet and biscuits; and the Fried Leche Bread Pudding– chili chocolate fudge, chocolate rosemary ice cream, soil and bourbon marshmallows.

Enticing beverages are a specialty at Sal Curioso’s handsome cocktail bar. Only “serious” beers are served- with a list of flavorsome craft beers from America and Australia, and premium Estrella draft beer from Spain. Cocktails are equally engaging, with both signature creations made from house infusions, and an intriguing collection of classic cocktails, and classics with a twist. Notable drinks include from the “Bartender’s Choice” – the Vieux Carre– a combination of Rye Whiskey, Cognac, Sweet Vermouth, DOM Benedictine and bitters; and from the “Cocktails” list- East 8 Hold Up– a mix of Vodka, Aperol, pineapple, passionfruit and citrus; and the classic Sazerac– Rye Whiskey and Cognac, sugar, bitters oil stirred in an Absinthe rinsed glass. The wine list is arranged under broad climate headings- with White and Reds listed separately under origins of either cool, warm, or sunny climates- offering a good variety of options to compliment the food.

Sal Curioso is open daily from 12:00 pm, with the kitchen serving lunch until 3:00 pm, and then dinner from 6:00 pm until last order at 10:30 pm. Bar snacks are available all day- and the bar is open from 12:00 pm until 1:00 am. The second floor space is accessed from a stairway around the side of the building- opening onto Glenealy Street.

The interior of Sal Curioso

A compact lounge area adjacent to the entrance stairwell and cocktail bar. An intimate space for private gatherings furnished in a retro 1970’s style of bold colors and geometric patterned wall. Polished concrete screed flooring and ceiling finishes provide a pared-back industrial-chic feel to the space.

The striking cocktail bar stands prominently at the entrance to the restaurant- fashioned from an elegant combination of black timber paneling and polished concrete, topped with a colorful mosaic of Mexican tiles.

The space extending beyond the cocktail bar features firstly a comfortable lounge setting adjacent to the bar, and then generously spaced banquette table settings backing onto open windows form part of the dining room section.

The gleaming stainless steel open kitchen extends across the wall opposite the cocktail bar- fronted with a section of bar stools for counter-top dining.

Inside the main dining room the decor has a clean, uncluttered feel, with well-spaced table settings, and furnishings of blond timber tables, and chairs and sofas with pastel green soft furnishings, standing on the polished concrete floor.

The “L” shaped open kitchen counter wraps around – also facing into the main dining room.

The front of the restaurant features floor to ceiling sliding glass doors that open onto an outdoor terrace- creating a sense of spaciousness, and a light and breezy feel.

Sections of the restaurant wall showcase the technical sketches, publications and inventions of the restaurant’s namesake- the chimerical individual- Sal Curioso.

The outdoor terrace opens directly out across the front of the restaurant- with a combination of some sofa seating and several high tables ideal for relaxing and taking in the local street activity below.

The outdoor terrace of the second storey space provides an engaging outlook over the Wyndham Street and Lan Kwai Fong neighbourhood- facing the historic Fringe Club & Foreign Correspondents Club at the front, with a backdrop of the Central district office towers.

Cocktail & Cuisine highlights

CURIOUS PALOMA- Tequila, grapefruit, lime, ginger and basil. Cinnamon salt rim.

1951 CHICAGO MARTINI- Tanqueray Gin, Noilly Prat with Cointreau rinse, & finished off with 3 anchovy stuffed olives. Winner of the 1951 Chicago Martini Competition.

HK BRAMBLE- Gin, Blackberry Liqueur and lemon juice.

SCOTTISH FLOWER– Hendrick’s Gin, St. Germain, Pomme Verte, balanced with a touch of citrus.

CORN CRACKERS- Avocado mousse, goats cheese, tomato relish and cilantro salsa. From the TAPAS Inspired selections.

CHORIPAN- Ultimate Latin favourite street snack- chorizo, and red pepper sandwich.

JAMBALAYA- Saffron Bomba rice, 5 seafoods, suckling pork, chorizo, celery, pepper and onions.